"Waiting times are a disgrace"

My GP referred me to the new Victoria Hospital in November after I had to make repeat appointments regarding continued pain and discomfort after eating.

After three months I contacted my GP concerned I had not heard back from the Victoria Inf and was informed there was nothing they could do and it was all up to the Victoria Infirmary to arrange a consultant appointment. After another month I was more concerned and so raised with my GP's practice manager, I was informed about how busy this service was and that I wasn't forgotten about.

By May, after more visits to my GP, I contacted the New Victoria to make a complaint but was encouraged not to and transferred to a 'Patient liaison', was told I would be called back. I wasn't called back so after calling again I was transferred to a lovely woman who did give me a secretaries number. I was told that the service was busy again so I went back to my GP (this now my 4th visit) and a new GP to the practice emailed the Victoria.

Eventually I was so frustrated that I had waited from mid November to May that I made a private and costly appointment to a private hospital.  A couple of days later I had an appointment card come through for the Victoria, which was a bit of a waste of time considering I had now went private. The consultant agreed to the suggestions made by the consultant I saw privately.

Then it seems the Victoria made no arrangements so again I had to call various numbers, by this point I had waited almost 6 and a half months for an outpatient appointment because 'its busy'. I now have an endoscopy arranged for September.

I have been assured my condition is chronic and no harm will come of the huge delay, saying this I have now spent almost a year waiting for some kind of treatment plan for this. Can I remind the following:

•From the 31 March 2010, no patient should wait longer than 12 weeks for a new outpatient appointment at a consultant-led clinic. This includes referrals from all sources.

Can I ask why it was acceptable to 1) not communicate 2 allow the long delay which breached the Patient Rights (Scotland Act). As a worried patient the unprofessional process to day surgery has been concerning.